I'm quite worried about these Fine gael plans for health

[Nugget]

I fully expect Fine Gael to win 60+ seats in next election and become the senior partner in coalition with Labour. Now generally they will just contine on with the same right wing pro-rich policies of Fianna Fail and the Greens. However a major policy shift looks set to take place in Healthcare.

Fine Gael want to implement the "Dutch model" ie force private health insurance on every person while destroying public healthcare. Ordinary working people on modest incomes will now have money taken out of their pay cheques and handed over to private insurance companies. This could be extremely expensive, I've heard figures of dutch workers paying up to €4000 to insure their family. In the case of people being unable to afford private health insurance the state will pay money directly to private health insurance fiirms.

This will completely privatise the health sector in Ireland. Health insurance companies will make massive profits while ordinary people will pay through their hats. This is completely the wrong approach to follow. Ireland should be pursuing a one tier public health system paid for by the progressive taxation model. If run correctly a public health system is far more cost efficient than a private one. The problem is you can't trust a right wing government to run proper public services. Right wing governments always deliberately run down public services so that people will support privatisations. Look at Harney, she is deliberately destroying the HSE so that people will turn towards her mates in private healthcare and make them huge profits.

<Mod - merged with just4ever thread>

[just4ever]

What are your opinions. I'm not saying I agree with this as I have serious reservations about privatization of the public sector but a twist on the FG plan would be my idea.
It would involve making private health insurance entirely tax deductable for employers and make it a mandatory condition of employment. It would be paid for by the state for the unemployed. The hospitals would be private companies answerable to a health service regulator who in turn is answerable to a junior minister for healthcare. This would remove the massive financial burden of healthcare from the public coffers.

[Edo]

FairCare

[Supermanpolitician]

I fully expect Fine Gael to win 60+ seats in next election and become the senior partner in coalition with Labour. Now generally they will just contine on with the same right wing pro-rich policies of Fianna Fail and the Greens. However a major policy shift looks set to take place in Healthcare.

Fine Gael want to implement the "Dutch model" ie force private health insurance on every person while destroying public healthcare. Ordinary working people on modest incomes will now have money taken out of their pay cheques and handed over to private insurance companies. This could be extremely expensive, I've heard figures of dutch workers paying up to €4000 to insure their family. In the case of people being unable to afford private health insurance the state will pay money directly to private health insurance fiirms.

This will completely privatise the health sector in Ireland. Health insurance companies will make massive profits while ordinary people will pay through their hats. This is completely the wrong approach to follow. Ireland should be pursuing a one tier public health system paid for by the progressive taxation model. If run correctly a public health system is far more cost efficient than a private one. The problem is you can't trust a right wing government to run proper public services. Right wing governments always deliberately run down public services so that people will support privatisations. Look at Harney, she is deliberately destroying the HSE so that people will turn towards her mates in private healthcare and make them huge profits.

Ignorant post.

My own cousin lives in Amsterdam. For her, her partner and their daughter she pays less than 1200 euro per annum.

This is a fraction of what I pay between my PRSI Health Levy, My Tax contribution given to the health service and our own VHI (wife) and Vivas (me) payments.

Methinks you just wanted to stir the pot.

[Nugget]

Ignorant post.

My own cousin lives in Amsterdam. For her, her partner and their daughter she pays less than 1200 euro per annum.

This is a fraction of what I pay between my PRSI Health Levy, My Tax contribution given to the health service and our own VHI (wife) and Vivas (me) payments.

Methinks you just wanted to stir the pot.

If Enda Kenny said black was white you would believe him. You are just a mindless blueshirt drone. The Fine Gael leadership laughs at people like you behind closed doors.

[Sync]

Just like to point out that this guy is probably the closest thing to a non-troll that's joined since membership was reopened. This guy.

[just4ever]

FG's proposal as I interpret it places the burden of expense on the employee rather than the employer. I would suggest the reverse.

[White Horse]

I fully expect Fine Gael to win 60+ seats in next election and become the senior partner in coalition with Labour. Now generally they will just contine on with the same right wing pro-rich policies of Fianna Fail and the Greens. However a major policy shift looks set to take place in Healthcare.

Fine Gael want to implement the "Dutch model" ie force private health insurance on every person while destroying public healthcare. Ordinary working people on modest incomes will now have money taken out of their pay cheques and handed over to private insurance companies. This could be extremely expensive, I've heard figures of dutch workers paying up to €4000 to insure their family. In the case of people being unable to afford private health insurance the state will pay money directly to private health insurance fiirms.

This will completely privatise the health sector in Ireland. Health insurance companies will make massive profits while ordinary people will pay through their hats. This is completely the wrong approach to follow. Ireland should be pursuing a one tier public health system paid for by the progressive taxation model. If run correctly a public health system is far more cost efficient than a private one. The problem is you can't trust a right wing government to run proper public services. Right wing governments always deliberately run down public services so that people will support privatisations. Look at Harney, she is deliberately destroying the HSE so that people will turn towards her mates in private healthcare and make them huge profits.

I lived in Holland for a few years and my experience of their health service is entirely positive.

You are correct in being concerned about the role of the private sector. Strict controls need to be in place when involving the private sector to ensure that clinical need rather than profits determine treatment.

However, the public sector often put it's employees before patients. It is not perfect either.

[Supermanpolitician]

If Enda Kenny said black was white you would believe him. You are just a mindless blueshirt drone. The Fine Gael leadership laughs at people like you behind closed doors.

Maybe....but I didn't just start a thread with multiple inaccuracies in the first post.

If you can't back up what you say, people like me will take the p!ss out of you!

Sorry kiddo, you brought it on yourself!

[Edo]

I hadn't read that. FG's proposal as I interpret it places the burden of expense on the employee rather than the employer. I would suggest the reverse.

Nonsense - its your health - your responsibility - why should your employer have to cater to that aswell.

You wont stay with the same employer all your life - you may become self employed at the various stages in your life - you may even be unemployed at certain stages - under the FG plan - you will pay when you have means to do so -it is graduated - but you will stay within the system at all times - you will have access ,without any upfront "registration costs" when it comes to GPs and primary medical care - thus freeing up beds in more acute and intensive medical care units.

The Government has to get out of the supply side of the medical system - its much better to be a proper regulator and purchaser -you cant play both sides of the system without being compromised - the British found that out and are slowly reforming the NHS and did row back on many of the changes made by the Tories - you have more power over the system and making it responsive and flexible to the needs of the community when you are buyer - you insist on what you need - and its up to the supplier to come up with the goods or he goes to the wall - medical facilities - both public and private - will be paid per patient - its up to them to get their maths right - there will no budget given at the start of the year and see how ya go - they will be paid per patient and per medical procedure - the way it should be.

Your Health is your responsibility - and I generally find if people feel that they are stakeholders and they can see directly how their money is spent - they tend to be alot more engaged and active in their responses the system than when they get some something for nothing.

Mail James Reilly about your concerns - he doesn't bite and he'll give you an honest answer to your concerns - also he is doing a public roadshow at the moment on the Faircare proposal and you are free to go along and grill him to your hearts content - He is very very good like that.